Floc distributor



April'4, 1950 o. G. PLOS 2,503,170

FLOC DISTRIBUTOR Filed ed. 12, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 4, 1950 o. G.PLOS 2,503,170

FLOC DISTRIBUTOR Filed Oct. 12, 1948 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Jnw/rIZ afl 02706. plas. M 4. 29M,

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 O G PLOS FLOC DISTRIBUTOR Y ZZa 6. P106 m i N FNWPatented Apr. 4, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE mfifiiillm i V OttoG. Plos,;hicago, Ill, assignor to=- Bi-nks Manufacturing Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application October 12, 1948,Serial No. 543129;

17 Claims. 1.

Thepresent invention relates to means for mixing and for applying floc,asby way of. a spray gun or the: like.

. Floc usually consists of veryshort fibers or even dust-like fibers ofwool or of vegetable base for use as a coating material, as-for wallsorwall paper, or the like, onwhich may be and usually is. a coating ofsome adhesive substance acting as ananchor base when the fioc is.projected. or sprayed, as by a spray gun,- on such surface, andwhen.dried effects a. sort of hard woolly or like coating. I

The present invention relates tothe means for mixing; and fordistributing the floc, which isin the nature. or form of a powder or asort of flocculent powdenwh-ich is light in weight,.andwhenthoroughlymixed and distributed can be pro/- jectecl, as by a spray gun, upon asurface as referred to above for; coating such surface,

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a. novel device formixing and commi-nuting the floc and for continuously conveying and;sue-- cessively delivering portionsoi such floc-to-av locus. of mixingwith air, or a gas,. with means for receiving the floc at such locus,and. means for projecting air or. the like into. such received floc atsuch locus to thoroughly mix with suchzfl'o'c and also to carrysuchmixture to a locus of use, as a spray gun or the like.

Another object of the invention: is. to'provi'de novel. means having. anadjustable guiding meme her or the. like for receiving conveyed fiocvand for delivering or directing the. same to the..lo.cus of mixing withthe air stream at such. locus, so as to vary or regulate the density orthe like. of the fioc in the mixture of air and floc carried to. the.applying means, as a spray gun or the. like..'

Other objects, advantages, capabilitiesieatures and the like arecomprehended by the invention as will later appear and as are inherentlypossessed by the invention.

Referring briefly" to the drawings:

Fig. I is a view partly in vertical section and. partly in elevation of.an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transversev sectional view taken in a plane represented byline. 2."--2 in Fig. 1 of; they drawings;

' Fig. 3 is a generalelevational Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly insection,.. of" a part' on an enlarged scale;

'Fig. 5 isa sectional view ofa detail.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5' of, an alternative form of flocguiding means; and;

view of the device. with a spray applyingmeans used with the. devieer,

Fig. 7 is a front. view of. the means shown in Fig 6.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the embodiment selected) toillustrate the invention is. shown as comprising a. cylindrical chamberor drum I disposed about a; horizontal. axis and haying a-rear wall 2and a forward opening'normally closed by aclosure plate 3, the openportion of the chamber I having a rim flange" 4 and the: closureplate-13' also having. a rim flange 5=t0vOVe1-' lie the flange 4:, therebeing preferably" a packing, or sealing ring 6 between. said. flanges 4and 5- At suitable intervals: the flange 4 is, provided. with bolt orscrew members I: projecting through suitable holes in the flange. 5, andthreaded to receive nuts, such. as wing nuts- 8, for clamping. the coveror closure 3' to the open side of the. drumv I to close said drum.

At the top the drum I has an opening 9 with: a. neck or chute tothrough. which fresh fioc may be charged. into: the drum. lg. the chuteIll being.

normally closed by a cap or cover II.

The drum I iszsuitably supported upon a motor housing L2. having sidewalls [3 extending. upto the lower portion. ofthe cylindrical wall ofthe.

rear edge portions of the side walls: l3. At-the top portion of. thewallt6 may be connected: bolts or screws 20 having their inner endsZlanchored. to the rear wall 2 of the drum. l and the bolts I1 and. 20have. wing. nuts 22 and123 for affording removal of the wall; I16. whendesired. At the upper end' of the. wall. I6; is a cover member 241spanning. the space between the upper end of. the wall; I6 and the.back. wall. 2 of the drum I}.

Ontthebottom. [4 of the housing. [2 is a plat-- formv 25 adjustablysupported by way of feet 2'5 fixed. to the. bottom [4. On the platform.25

supported a motor 21 inacage 28* on a base block. 29 secured to thecage. 28 andto the platform. 25; by suitable means,; such. as bolts3-02.. See Figs-1.;

Also on. the. platform 21 is, supported a gear re. duction device 3].having; a. pedestal 32 with: av base block or the like 3'3 securedltothe platform.

25'by suitable meanssuchas bolts; See Fig.1; i

a flange 44 located within the wall 2 of the drum I and is secured tosaid wall 2 by means of bolts or the like 45.

The shaft 42 extends or projects through the bearing means 43 with aninner end portion 41' within the drum I and on such inwardly extendingend portion 4'! of the shaft 42 is fixed a hub member 46 by way ofsuitable key means 48. See Fig. 4. The hub 46 is. held seated against ashoulder 49 on the shaft portion 41 by a suitable washer 50 thrustingagainst the hub 46 by means of a screw threaded in the end of the shaftportion 41. I

' In the periferal portionof the hub 46 is provided a series of sockets52 in which are set the inner end portions of radially extending spokesor rods 53, such inner end portions being fixed in their sockets 52 byset means, such as set screws 54. The rods 53 extend componently,radially and forwardly and at their outer end portions are fixeddistributing members 55, more or less in the appearance of paddles orcarriers, the ends 56 of these paddles or carriers being out on a biasto fit into channels 51 in the outwardly extending end portions of therods or spokes 53, and such end portions 56 being fixed in such channels51, as by welding or the like. These paddles are substantially in radialplanes. The hub 46, spokes or rods 53 and the paddles or carriers 55constitute a conveyor for'conveying fioc up to and above the chute 85 aslater described. I

'In the closure plate 3 (see Fig. 4) are provided openings 58 and 59 forreceptions of pipe or duct connectors or couplings 60 and Bi having hubs62 and 63 and nut heads 64 and 65 to abut the inner side of the closureplate 3, and exteriorly have threadednecks or portions 66 and 61 forreceiving clamping nuts 68 and 69. To the threaded portion 68 and 61 areconnected pipes or conductors Hi and I I. To the inner parts 62 and 63are connected ducts 12 and 13. The duct 12 extends inwardly and has areversed bent portion 14 and a delivery end portion 15 connected to anair nozzle 16 having a discharge orifice TI, and this nozzle I6 has athreaded bodyportion 78. This nozzle I6 with its discharge orifice TI isin alinement with the entry portion 19 of the duct 13.

Mounted on the nozzle 16 and on the end portion 19 of the duct 13 isangularly'adjustably mounted a guide member 86 having elongated topopening BI and front opening Bl and bottom opening 81 and end walls 82and 83 of which the wall 82 has an opening for receiving the open endportion '19 of the duct 13, and the wall 83 is threaded to receive thenozzle 16. To a side, as a rear side 84 (see Fig. 5) of the troughmember 80, is attached a chute or guide 85 having a lower end portion orfoot 86 secured to the side 84 by suitable securing means, as screws(see Fig. 5), and the chute or guide 85 has side walls or wing portions88 and 89. The inner or upper face of the chute or guide 85 is disposedas a continuous surface with an inclined guide or surface 90 (see Fig.5) of the member 80. The chute or guide 85 and the member 80 togetherwith the end members 82 and 83 as also the duct it with the head 65 areangularly adjustable about the nozzle 16 and the duct portion to anydesired angle of inclination.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 the chute or guide means is shown as having aslightly different form, and it comprises an inclined wall part 85having side walls or wings 88 and 89 and at the lower end of the wall 85is an extension or foot 86 disposed at an angle or at a greater dip tothe wall At the ends of the foot 86 and also at the lower ends of thewings 88 and 89 are provided end wall members 83 and 82' having openingsfor respectively receiving the nozzle member 16 connected to the pipe 15and the entry end portion 19 of the duct 13.

'It'will be noted that as the wheel or conveyor with the paddles orcarriers 55 rotates or travels the paddles or carriers travel in a pathabout and above the chute or guide 85 so that fioc carried up by thepaddles or carriers 55 will fall or flow down on the chute or guide 85and then slide down over the inclined surface 90 of the member 80.

Referring to Fig. 3 in particular as also to Fig. 2, an air duct 98supplies air under pressure to a spray gun-92 and to a control valve 93carried in the handle 94 of the gun, and thence by way of the duct orpipe 18 to the connection of fitting 6268 and then to the duct 12. Theair then passes to the nozzle 16 and through the orifice '51 thereofinto the floc sliding down over the inclined-surface 98 where the airpicks up some floc and the mixture is forced through the duct 73 thenceto the duct H. The duct H leads to the body 95 of the gun 92 and thenceto the spray nozzle 96 of the gun 82.

Referring to Figs 6 and '7, the air passing from the nozzle 16 towardand to the entry 19 of the duct 13 picks up some of the fioc sliding orpassing down over the wall 85 and into the space before the foot 88 andmixes with it to be forced through the entry 19 and duct 13 in the sameway as above described with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

In the operation of the device the fioc is sprayed on a surface having alayer or coating of some adhesive material so that the fioc will adhereto it and as the coating dries and solidifies, the fioc is held as afurry or piled layer. The device generally may be conveniently shiftedor moved around on the castors l5 to the locus of application of thefioc. With the motor running the wheel in the chamber or drum l isrotated, as in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, at a givenspeed, wherein the paddles or carriers 55 dip into and stir the fioc inthe lower portion or space in the drum and at the same time the paddlesor carriers 55 pick up some fioc which adheres sufficiently to theleading faces of the paddles or carriers 55 under the speed of movement.of the paddles or carriers 55 so as to carry such floc to an upperlevel above the chute or guide 85 whereupon the floc slides or fallsdown by gravity from the paddles or carriers 55 and onto and upon thechute or guide 85 where the floc slides down the chute 85 and also overthe inclined surface 98, or over the chute 85* and also over'the foot 86where the floc is picked up by and mixed with the jet, or the like, ofair projected from the orifice H of the air nozzle 16 and to 'force themixture of this air and fioc to and through the duct 13 and thence byway of the duct 1| to the gun body '95, and spray nozzle 96 Depending onthe type of fioc used as also on the density of non inthe' air stream tothe gun the speed of rotation of the wheel'or conveyor may be varied asalso the slope or angular portion of chute 85 or 85 and the inclinedsurface part 90 or foot 88 When more fioc is needed, the cover ll may beremoved and more floc charged iiito the drum l by way of the hoppermeans Hi. In the event it is desired to adjust-the tension of thedriving chain 48, whether to give it a little slack or to take up slack,the connecting means 26, as bolts or the like, are loosened and the 25is moved or slid, to the left or to the right as shown in Fig. l, andthen the bolts 26 are tightene'd. When it is desired to adjust the slantor pitch of the chute 85 and part 90, it may be forceably turnedwith-its attached member 80 about the axis of the nozzle It and theentry portion 19 of the duct 13.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an embodimentof the invention, it is to be understood that this is by way ofillustration only and that the invention comprehends otherconstructions, arrangements of parts, details, features and thelikewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a floc distributor of the character disclosed and which has aportable support carrying power operating means thereon; the combinationtherein of a fioc holding chamber for the holding therein of a quantityof'fioc as in the lower portion thereof, a conveyor device movablysupported in said chamber and operatively connected to the poweroperating means and having carriers for moving into said fioc to stir upandmix the fioc and to carry up some of the fioc on the carriers to anupper portion of the chamber, a fioc receiving guiding means in saidchamber and located at a locus within the plane of the path of movementof said carriers for receiving fioc from said carriers as said carriersmove above and over said guiding means, said guiding means havingopenings at opposite sides thereof and in alinement with each other, adelivery duct having an inlet end thereof connected to said guidingmeans and communicating therewith at one of said openings and extendingto the exterior of said chamber for the delivery of a mixture of air andfioc to a locus of application, and an air supply duct having an outletend thereof connected to said guiding means and communicating therewithat the other of said openings and extending from g the exterior of saidchamber for the delivery of air under pressure to the doc at saidguiding means to mix therewith and to project said mixture to and alongsaid delivery duct.

2. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said airdelivery duct has an air nozzle located at the outlet thereof and at theother of said openings of said guiding means and in alinement with saidone of said openings of said guiding means for forcing a mixture of airand fioc into the inlet of and along said delivery duct.

3. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claim 2, and wherein is mounteda chute above said guiding means and located in the plane of the path ofmovement of said carriers for receiving fioc from said carriers and forguiding said fioc to said guiding means. l

4. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claim 3, and wherein said chuteis so mounted in respect to said delivery and supply ducts as to be ad-.justable about the axes thereof for delivering of fioc from said chuteto said guiding-means at different inclinations of said chute. i

5. In a fioc distributor as set forth'in claim 4, and wherein said chuteis connected to said guiding means and said guiding means has means foradjustably connecting said guiding means to said supply and saiddelivery ducts for adjustment about the axes of said ducts. 1

6. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claimbl, and wherein is mounteda chute above said guiding means and located in the plane of the path ofmovement of said carriers for receivin rice from said carriers and forguiding said fioc to said guiding means.

7. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claimfi, and whereinsaid chuteis so mounted in respect to said delivery and supply ducts as to beadjustable about the axes thereof for delivering :01? fioc from saidchute to said guiding means at different inclinations of said chute.

8. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claim 7, and wherein said chuteis connected tosaid guiding means trough and said guiding means hasmeans for adjustably connecting said guiding means to said supply andsaid delivery ducts for adjustment about the axes of said ducts.

9. In a fioc distributor of the character disclosed and which has aportable support carrying power operating means thereon; the combinationtherein of a fioc holding chamber for the holding therein of a quantityof fioc as in the lower portion thereof, said chamber having front andrear walls, bearin means carried by one of said walls, a conveyor devicerotatably supported by said bearing means and rotatable in said chamberand operatively connected to the power operating means and havingcarriers for moving into said fioc to stir up and mix the fioc and tocarry up some of the fioc 0n the carriers to an upper portion of thechamber, a fioc receiving guiding means in said chamber and located at alocus within the plane of the path of movement of said carriers forreceiving fioc from said carriers as said carriers move above and oversaid guiding means, said guiding means having openings at opposite sidesthereof and in alinement with each other, a delivery duct having aninlet end thereof connected to said guiding means and communicatingtherewith at one of said openings and extending to the exterior of saidchamber for the delivery of a mixture of air and fioc to a locus ofapplication, and an air supply duct having an outlet end thereofconnected to said guiding means and communicating therewith at the other'of said openings and extending from the exterior of said chamber forthe delivery of air under pressure to the fioc to said guiding means tomix therewith and to project said mixture to and along said deliveryduct.

10. In a floc distributor as set forth in claim 9, and wherein saiddelivery duct and said air supply duct extend through said other walland have means connected to said other wall for supporting said deliveryand air supply ducts.

11. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claim 1, and wherein saidchamber has front and rear walls, and wherein said delivery duct andsaid air supply duct extend through one of said walls and has meansconnected to said one of said walls for supportin said delivery and airsupply ducts.

12. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claim 9, and wherein saidportable support has a housing in which said power operating means issupported, and wherein said chamber is supported on said housing,- saidbearing means extending into said housing and said conveyor devicehavinga shaft in said bearing means and extending into said housing, adriven member on said shaft in said housing, a driving means connectedto the power operating means and to said driven member.

13. In a floc distributor as set forth in claim 12, and wherein saidhousing has a floor, a supporting'base for the power operating means onsaidfioor, andmeans for adjustably connecting said base to said floor.

. 14. In afioc distributor as set forth in claim 9, and wherein saidconveyor means has a shaft in saidwbearing means and has a head securedto said shaft, and also has a plurality of spokes extending radially andangularly from said head, means for fixing the inner end portions ofsaid spokes tosaid head, and said carriers being fixed 8 to the outerend portions of said spokes to-be disposed in radial planes. 15. In afloc distributor as set forth in claim 9, and wherein said front wallhas means for detachably connecting said front Wall to said drum. 16.Ina fioc distributor as set forth in claim 15, and wherein said drum isprovided with a. flange and said front wall has a rim portion foroverlying said flange and said connecting meansv comprising elementspassing through said flange and said rim portion for clamping saidflange and said rim portion together.

17. In a fioc distributor as set forth in claim 16, and wherein isprovided a sealing means be-v tween said flange and said rim portion.

O'ITQ G. PLOS-If No references cited.

